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Somerville Ave. Utility and Streetscape Improvements Project

Updates & Alerts

Project Background

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Updates & Alerts

Updated 5/24/2019

Barletta will continue installing metal sheeting in advance of future excavation between Prospect St. and Stone Ave. Drilling these in may be disruptive; the City will contact businesses directly if impacts are anticipated.

Another crew will be test-pitting between Prospect St. and Medford St.

If schedules allow, work to remove old trolley tracks in the center of Somerville Ave. will continue, progressing from Merriam St. to Prospect St. In total, about two-thirds of the original track has been removed thus far.

Please note the next public meeting has been postponed. More information to follow when that's been rescheduled.

Barletta has made significant progress in recent weeks. Crews have installed most of the structures in the big pit in Union Sq. and they've started backfilling their way up and out.

Another crew will be test-pitting on Somerville Ave. between Prospect St. and Medford St.

Another crew will be pre-trenching and installing piles east of Stone Ave., requiring lane shifts.

If schedules allow, work to remove old trolley tracks in the center of Somerville Ave. will continue, progressing from Merriam St. to Prospect St.

Mark your calendars for this project's next public meeting, June 4 at 6 p.m. in the Public Safety Building. It'll cover planned work for the rest of the year.

Updated 5/10/2019

In the Union Sq. work zone, Barletta will continue installing manholes and new drainage infrastructure.

Another crew will be test-pitting on Somerville Ave. between Medford St. and McGrath Highway.

Another crew will dig exploratory trenches on the north side of Somerville Ave. between Union Square and Prospect St.

If schedules allow, work to remove old trolley tracks in the center of Somerville Ave. will continue, progressing from Merriam St. to Prospect St.

Updated 4/26/2019

In the Union Sq. work zone, Barletta will continue installing sections of the box culvert drainage infrastructure.

Another crew will be testing a new water main on Somerville Ave. near the Target parking lot, requiring lane shifts and parking restrictions.

Work to remove old trolley tracks will continue, progressing from Mansfield St. to Prospect St. The tracks are in the center of Somerville Ave., on either side of the existing yellow centerline, so minor lane shifts will be required to accommodate workers in the middle of the road.

Eversource Gas has about five more services to replace on Somerville Ave. between Linden St. and Medford St.

RCN hopes to finish up this week at the Somerville Ave. / Rossmore St. intersection.

Updated 4/19/2019

This project celebrated a milestone this past week as crews installed the first sections of the box culvert, the drainage infrastructure at the core of this construction. Hundreds of sections will be ultimately be installed along Somerville Ave. throughout the project.

During the week of April 22, work to remove old trolley tracks will continue, progressing from Medford St. toward Prospect St. The tracks are in the center of Somerville Ave., on either side of the existing yellow centerline, so minor lane shifts will be required to accommodate workers in the middle of the road.

Weather permitting, RCN will finish remaining work on Somerville Ave. at the Rossmore St. intersection, as well as between Linden St. and Prospect St.

Eversource Gas also plans to be on the southern side of Somerville Ave. between Linden St. and Medford St. replacing gas services.

Updated 4/12/2019

Overnight electrical work will continue in Union Square Monday - Friday, April 15 - 19. Work hours are 7 p.m. - 5 a.m. Crews will trench across Somerville Ave. from the Webster Ave. intersection to the large fenced-in work zone, leaving at least one traffic lane open in each direction.

Work to remove old trolley tracks will also resume, starting at Medford St. and progressing toward Prospect St. The tracks are in the center of Somerville Ave., on either side of the existing yellow centerline, so minor lane shifts will be required to accommodate workers in the middle of the road.

Within the work zone in Union Sq., crews continue to install support of excavation.

Later in the week, another crew may tie in water lines near Medford St. and Merriam St., requiring minor lane shifts.

RCN continues at the Rossmore St. intersection.

Updated 3/29/2019

Weather and schedules permitting, Eversource plans to work overnight in Union Square starting the evening of Monday, April 1, for approximately three nights. Some noise from jackhammering and saw cutting may be heard through about midnight.

During those overnight work hours, crews will trench across Somerville Ave. from the Webster Ave. intersection to the large fenced-in work zone, leaving at least one traffic lane open in each direction.

During daytime hours, within that work zone in Union Sq., crews will continue installing support of excavation.

Another crew will continue tying in water lines near Medford St., requiring minor lane shifts.

RCN will also be working at the Rossmore St. intersection.

Updated 3/8/2019

Throughout the week of March 11, crews will continue drilling micropiles within the Union Sq. work zone daily between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Another crew will be removing old trolley tracks between Prospect St. and Medford St. The trolley tracks are in the center of Somerville Ave., on either side of the existing yellow centerline, so minor lane shifts will be required to accommodate workers in the middle of the road.

Eversource Gas will continue working on individual services to buildings between Prospect St. and Medford St. on the southern side of Somerville Ave.

Updated 2/22/2019

The new traffic pattern in Union Sq. has been installed. This detour is expected to be in place for about six months. City and project staff are monitoring traffic flows and making adjustments where possible.

During the week of February 25, crews will be tying in water lines near Medford St. and McGrath Highway, requiring minor lane shifts.

Another crew will be removing old trolley tracks between Prospect St. and Medford St. The trolley tracks are in the center of Somerville Ave., on either side of the existing yellow centerline, so minor lane shifts will be required to accommodate workers in the middle of the road.

Eversource Gas will continue working on individual services to buildings on the southern side of Somerville Ave. throughout the week.

Eastbound through traffic will be diverted down Dane St. to Washington St., but cars can still proceed to the Warren Ave. / Bow St. intersection to access residences, businesses, and on-street parking. Westbound through traffic (toward Porter Sq.) will be maintained, as will bicycle and pedestrian traffic in both directions.

Northbound through-traffic and bicyclists approaching Union Sq. should use Prospect St. and Somerville Ave. or take Webster Ave. to Washington St. to Dane St.

Stops on MBTA bus routes 85 and 87 between Dane St. and Union Sq. will be temporarily relocated. Go to the Detours & Maps tab to see the new routes. The MBTA will post service advisories and wayfinding maps at affected stops.

In addition to setting up this new traffic pattern, during the week of February 18, crews will be tying in water lines on Mansfield St. and east of Merriam St., requiring minor lane shifts.

Another crew will be removing old trolley tracks between Prospect St. and Medford St. The trolley tracks are in the center of Somerville Ave., on either side of the existing yellow centerline, so minor lane shifts will be required to accommodate workers in the middle of the road.

Eversource Gas will begin working on individual services to buildings on the south side of Somerville Ave. throughout the week.

Updated 2/6/2019

As part of the next phase of the project, City contractors will set up a large work zone in Union Square on or around February 19. It will remain in place for approximately six months.

For the duration of this six-month period, eastbound through traffic on Somerville Ave. will be detoured onto Dane St. and Washington St., although vehicles will still be able to proceed up to the Warren Ave. intersection to access residences, businesses, and on-street parking.

MBTA bus stops on routes 85 and 87 between Dane St. and Union Square will be temporarily closed and relocated.

Westbound through traffic will be maintained, as will pedestrian and bicycle traffic in both directions.
This detour will allow crews to install the first section of a stormwater box culvert along Somerville Ave. between Bow St. and Washington St. This structure, which will ultimately extend east to Poplar St., will support nearly two-thirds of the City’s drainage and help minimize flooding in the Union Square area.

Please view the detour maps and other information on this page, or email [email protected] with questions.

Updated 2/1/2019

Crews continue to make preliminary, temporary adjustments in the Union Square area to prepare for the the six-month detour on Somerville Ave. eastbound. See a summary of these adjustments in the previous update.

A few highlights from those changes: Eastbound traffic on Washington St. has been reduced to one lane between Union Square and the mid-block crossing.

Pedestrians, please also note: The crosswalk outside Mama Gina's that runs across Somerville Ave. has been removed; it's in the footprint of the large work zone that will be set up in the coming weeks. Please abide by posted signage and use one of the other crosswalks nearby.

Additionally, during the week of February 4, crews will be removing duct banks on Somerville Ave. just west of Prospect St., requiring a lane shift.

They'll also be test-pitting near Target, just west of Medford St., with minor traffic impacts there.

Eversource Gas also plans to continue working on Rossmore St.

Updated 1/24/2019

Preliminary Work to Begin in Advance of Union Square Detour

Estimated Start Date of Preliminary Detour Work: Friday, January 25

Estimated Duration of Preliminary Detour Work: 3 – 4 weeks

Summary of Work: A series of temporary changes to traffic lights and roadway markings will be made in the Union Square area. These preliminary adjustments are necessary in order to set up the large work zone in Union Square, which at this time is anticipated to begin in mid- to late-February.

New Temporary Traffic Signals
On Friday, January 25, two temporary traffic signals will be activated at the intersection of Webster Ave. and Somerville Ave. Both signals will service northbound traffic on Webster Ave. The existing traffic signal there will be dismantled and removed once the two new temporary signals are activated and functioning. When the Union Square work zone is disassembled (after about six months from the starting date), the existing traffic signal will be reinstalled.

Lane Closures & Lane Shifts

The left-turn-only lane on Somerville Ave. eastbound approaching Union Square will be closed. The existing lane layout will not be changed; drivers can turn left from the center lane. Bicyclists may need to share the road with motor vehicles in this stretch as posted signage will indicate.

A lane shift will be in effect on Somerville Ave. eastbound between Union Square and Prospect St.

Eastbound traffic on Washington St. will be reduced to one lane between Union Square and the mid-block crossing.

Changes to Roadway Pavement Markings
Beginning on Monday, January 28, crews will make temporary changes to current roadway striping in preparation for the upcoming detour on Somerville Ave. eastbound. This work may occur over several days as weather permits.

The stop bar on Dane St. at the Somerville Ave. intersection will be moved back 60 ft.

The stop bar on Webster Ave. at the Somerville Ave. intersection will be moved back 60 ft.

The left-turn lane on Prospect St. at the Somerville Ave. intersection will be extended.

The crosswalk outside Mama Gina's that runs across Somerville Ave. will be removed.

Impacts: Please expect increased traffic delays in the area during this time. One metered parking spot will be eliminated on Washington St. to extend the existing bus stop. Four residential parking spots on Hawkins St. will also be eliminated to facilitate access for emergency vehicles.

Please Note: Current schedules estimate the detour on Somerville Ave. eastbound will begin in mid- to late-February. More information will be provided as that timeline is finalized.

Updated 1/18/2019

Crews continue to excavate and install catch basins at various locations along Somerville Ave. between Prospect St. and Medford St., requiring lane shifts around those areas.

Water main tie-ins on Rossmore St. and Mansfield St. will require lane shifts. Eversource Gas may also be on Rossmore St. doing related work.

Test pits on Somerville Ave. near McGrath Highway will also require lane shifts.

No new news to report about the start date for the detour on Somerville Ave. eastbound.

Updated 1/14/2019

Overnight work in Union Square will continue on weeknights through on or around Wednesday, January 16. Contractors will be working on fiber optic cables within manholes in the area. Work hours are midnight to 6 a.m. Only minor noise and minimal traffic impacts are expected.

A detour start date for eastbound through traffic on Somerville Ave. has not been set yet. The project team will know more once the cable work above is completed.

Throughout the week of January 14, crews will continue removing duct banks as well as a clay sewer pipe between Union Square and the Somerville Media Center building.

Water main realignments continue on Medford St. at the Somerville Ave. corner, requiring parking restrictions and lane shifts.

Finally, crews will excavate and install catch basins at various locations along Somerville Ave. between Prospect St. and Medford St.

Updated 1/4/2019

Overnight work in Union Square will begin Monday, January 7, and continue weeknights only through about Wednesday, January 16. Contractors will be working on fiber optic cables within manholes in the area. Work hours are midnight to 6 a.m. Only minor noise and minimal traffic impacts are expected.

During the day, crews will continue removing duct banks in Union Square.

Water main realignments continue on the northern side of Somerville Ave. at Medford St., requiring parking restrictions and lane shifts.

Work may begin in the next week or so to remove part of the traffic island between Somerville Ave. eastbound and Bow St. in preparation for the next phase of this project.

A start date for the detour for eastbound through traffic on Somerville Ave. has not been set yet.

Updated 12/21/2018

During the week of December 24 (excluding Christmas), Eversource Electric and Barletta will continue removing duct banks, or groups of conduit, in the heart of the Square.

Water main realignments continue on the northern side of Somerville Ave. between Mansfield St. and Medford St., requiring parking restrictions and lane shifts.

Barletta may also test-pit along Somerville Ave. near Union Square and near McGrath Highway.

Due to continued Eversource delays, the detour for eastbound through traffic on Somerville Ave. is expected to be implemented in early 2019.

During that time, eastbound drivers on Somerville Ave. will still be able to proceed to the Square, just not through the Square. More information will be provided here and in the weekly construction newsletter once a start date is set.

Updated 12/14/2018

During the week of December 17, Eversource Electric and Barletta will be removing duct banks, or groups of conduit, in the heart of the Square.

Water main realignments continue on the northern side of Somerville Ave. between Mansfield St. and Medford St., requiring parking restrictions and lane shifts.

Barletta may also continue test-pitting along Somerville Ave. near Union Square and near McGrath Highway.

Due to continued Eversource delays, the detour for eastbound through traffic on Somerville Ave. is now expected to be implemented in early 2019. More information will be provided once a start date is set.

Eastbound drivers on Somerville Ave. will still be able to proceed to the Square, just not through the Square. Through traffic will be rerouted down Dane St. Click the Detours tab for maps and more information.

Updated 12/7/2018

Due to continued Eversource delays, the detour on Somerville Ave. eastbound is now expected to be implemented in early 2019.

Updated 12/7/2018

During the week of December 10, the following work will be completed:

Overnight on Monday, December 11, into Tuesday, December 12, Eversource Electric crews will be splicing cables near the Somerville Ave. / Washington St. intersection. Work is expected to begin Monday night at 11 p.m. and continue into Tuesday afternoon. There may be some lane shifts in place, but this work should not be disruptive to abutters.

Water main realignments continue on the northern side of Somerville Ave. between Rossmore St. and Medford St., requiring parking restrictions and lane shifts.

The detour on Somerville Ave. is expected to go into effect beginning in mid-December. Only eastbound vehicular through traffic will be rerouted. Three stops on MBTA bus routes 85 and 87 will also be temporarily relocated. We’ll update this page as the timeline becomes clearer.

Water main realignments continue on the northern side of Somerville Ave.: One crew will be between Merriam St. and Mansfield St. moving east, and one will be at Prospect St. moving west, requiring parking restrictions and lane shifts.

Barletta will also continue test-pitting on Somerville Ave. between Bow St. and Prospect St.

Updated 11/13/2018

On or around Wednesday, November 14, 21 trees will be removed from Somerville Ave. between Stone Ave. and Medford St. These trees were originally marked for a 2019 removal, but they need to be removed earlier than anticipated so that crews can proceed with construction to install a new water main.

At the end of this project, 51 new trees will be planted in this stretch, including new trees in the vicinity of the trees that will be removed. These new trees will be planted in expanded tree pits with maximized soil volumes using Silva Cells. The tree pits will be surrounded by porous and permeable pavements for improved water and air exchange, and subsurface drip irrigation will be installed to support tree health during droughts.

Updated 11/7/2018

As of November 7, the City anticipates that the detour planned for Somerville Ave. eastbound will not go into effect before early December.

Before the next phase of the Somerville Ave. Utilities & Streetscape Improvements Project can begin, Eversource Electric must complete some underground utility work. Crews will be onsite over the next several weeks pulling underground conduit, but a more detailed schedule has not yet been provided. As soon as we have a clear understanding of the Eversource work schedule, we will update the community on both that work schedule and the anticipated start date for the Somerville Ave. detour.

On weekdays and possibly weekends throughout the month of November, Eversource expects to be pulling conduit in manholes along Somerville Ave., which may require them to work as late as 11 p.m. The work should not be disruptive to abutters, however there may be some lane shifts in place at the locations of the manholes.

Updated 11/1/2018

On Thursday, November 1, and Friday, November 2, Eversource Electric crews will be working in manholes along Somerville Ave., between Stone Ave. and Prospect St., until approximately 11 p.m. The work will include pulling underground cable and should not be disruptive to abutters; however, there may be some lane shifts in place at the locations of the manholes, and Somerville Police will be stationed in those areas to assist with traffic flow.

Starting on or around the first week of November 2018, City contractors will begin to establish this work zone for the next major phase of the Somerville Ave. Utilities & Streetscape Improvement project, commonly referred to as the “upstream connection” phase. This work zone is anticipated to remain in place for approximately six months, from December 2018 to May 2019. The upstream connection work includes the installation of a new box culvert and the separation of existing sewer and drainage pipe systems.

During construction, access to businesses will remain available, and pedestrian and bicycle access will be maintained.

Due to limited vehicular access on Somerville Ave. eastbound, the detour will re-route through traffic from Somerville Ave. eastbound onto Dane St. and Washington St. Vehicle and bicycle traffic traveling northbound on Webster Ave. will not be able to directly access Bow St. through Union Square. Access to Bow St. from Webster Ave. can be achieved by proceeding northbound on Prospect St. and making a left-hand turn onto Somerville Ave. westbound. Vehicles will, however, be able to access Somerville Ave. to the Bow St. turnaround in order to access businesses.

Traffic will NOT be able to access the Somerville Ave./Washington St. intersection past Bow St. while the work zone is in place. Temporary detour signage will be in place. Information regarding the relocation of existing bus stops can be found by clicking here, and will be posted at existing bus stops.

Updated 10/5/2018

Beginning in early November, the next phase of the Somerville Ave. Utilities & Streetscape Improvements Project will get underway, including a detour for through traffic on Somerville Ave. eastbound between Dane St. and Bow St. (local traffic for businesses and residents will be able to access Somerville Ave. to Bow St., but not all the way through the heart of the square). To accommodate construction, a work zone will be set up in the middle of Union Square for about six months. Some stops on MBTA bus routes 85 and 87between Dane Street and Union Square will also be temporarily closed and relocated during this time.

To learn more about the upcoming work and associated detours, please join Ward 2 Alderman J.T. Scott, Ward 3 Alderman Ben Ewen-Campen, City of Somerville staff, and representatives from the project team for a community meeting on Wednesday, October 10, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Academy Room at the Somerville Public Safety building, 220 Washington St.

From December 2018 through approximately May 2019, three stops on MBTA bus routes 87 Inbound and 85 Inbound will be temporarily closed & relocated.

Route 87 Inbound

Somerville Ave. opposite School St. (in front of Be in Union yoga)

→ Use Somerville Ave. opposite Loring St. instead

Somerville Ave. @ Carlton St.

→ Use Washington St. @ Kingman Rd. instead

Routes 85 & 87 Inbound

Somerville Ave. @ Union Sq. (in front of Grooves)

→ Use Washington St. @ Kingman Rd. instead

Older Updates

Updated 9/28/2018

Beginning the week of October 1, City contractors will be making upgrades to the large combined sewer on Somerville Ave. as part of the ongoing Somerville Ave. Utility and Streetscape Improvements Project. Work will begin at the Washington St. / Bow St. / Somerville Ave. intersection and progress in segments to Poplar St.

Given the size of this sewer, crews will be working both during the day and overnight, Monday through Friday, for approximately three weeks, though significant rain may add delays. Work is not expected to take place on weekends.

Please also note that certain phases of the lining operation may produce a glue-like odor. This is generated from the liner curing process and should not be cause for concern.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause as we complete this necessary upgrade to our City’s aging underground infrastructure.

If you have any questions, please call the Engineering Department at 617-625-6600 ext. 5400 or 311/617-666-3311.

Updated 9/19/2018

On or around September 19, 2018, seven trees will be removed as part of the Somerville Ave. Three of these seven were found to be nearly dead or in poor health. They’re marked as numbers 11, 12, 13, 17, 20, 33, and 34 on this map, which was presented at the tree hearings earlier this year.

The sewer lining work outlined for the week of September 24 has been pushed to the week of October 1.

Updated 9/14/2018

Week of September 17

Barletta will continue installing a new water main in the Bow St. area, so there may be a lane closure at Somerville Ave. eastbound at that intersection through the week.

To prepare for the combined-sewer lining work that’s on track for the week of September 24 (more below), crews will be cleaning that sewer on Hawkins St. moving to Somerville Ave., as well as finishing pump set-ups at the Hawkins St. / Washington St. intersection and the Bow St. island near Reliable Market.

Plans are still being finalized at this time, but it’s likely that during the week of September 17, a few trees originally marked for removal in 2019 will be removed earlier than anticipated because they currently interfere with sewer lateral separation work. Proper notice will be posted in accordance with City ordinance, and we will post an update here when more specific information is available.

As a reminder, 40 trees will be preserved through the project, and 51 new trees will be planted at the end of the project. To view presentation materials and a list of the trees allocated for removal, click on the Meetings & Presentations tab to view presentation materials from two tree hearings held in 2018.

Week of September 24

Weather permitting, beginning the week of September 24 and lasting for approximately three weeks, sewer lining work on the large combined sewer that runs beneath the center of Somerville Ave. will begin, starting at the Washington St. / Bow St. / Somerville Ave. intersection and moving in sections toward Poplar St. It’s estimated that this will take about three weeks to complete.

Overnight Work

This combined sewer is large – it connects two-thirds of the City to the MWRA system. Given its size, crews will be working on site all day and all night, Monday through Friday, for three consecutive weeks. There may be weather delays, however, because rain would increase drainage discharge flows, preventing the lining material from curing properly.

Traffic Impacts

Parking restrictions will be posted on both sides of the work zone. No road closures are anticipated, but lane shifts and isolated lane closures will be in effect.

Odors

Certain phases of the lining operation may produce glue-like odors. The sewer lining work outlined for the week of September 24 has been pushed to the week of October 1.

Updated 8/21/2018

During the week of August 27, City contractors will be making upgrades to the sewer mains on the north side of Somerville Ave., between Stone Ave. and Medford St., as part of the ongoing Somerville Ave. Utility and Streetscape Improvements Project.

The work will be conducted overnight in order to minimize disruptions to residents and businesses in this area. It will begin at 10 p.m. and may finish as late as 2 p.m. the following day. Notices will be distributed to individual properties 24 hours before work affecting them is scheduled to start. During your sewer service interruption, please avoid activities that send water down the drains in your residence/business, including:

If excessive water does go down your drain during this time, like from a washing machine or dishwasher, you run the risk of a sewage backup coming into your property.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause as we complete this necessary upgrade to our City’s aging underground infrastructure.

If you have any questions, please call the Engineering Department at 617-625-6600 ext. 5400 or 311/617-666-3311.

Updated 7/29/2018

As part of the ongoing Somerville Ave. Sewer Separation & Streetscape Improvements Project, City contractors will be conducting sewer line cleaning. Due to the nature of the work and potential traffic impacts, the work will be done overnight on Monday, July 30, Tuesday July 31, and Wednesday, August 1, between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. The work will not produce noise, with the exception of an idling truck, and will not require road closures. There are not expected to be any impacts to residents or businesses. On Monday night, the work will take place adjacent to the Union Square Plaza on Somerville Ave., and on Tuesday and Wednesday nights the work will take place within the intersection of Prospect St. and Somerville Ave.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected], or call 311 (617-666-3311). Thank you.

Updated 7/19/2018

Highlights

Expect increased traffic disruptions in the Square; both Barletta and Eversource Electric will be working in the heart of the Square over the next three months.

The work zone on Somerville Ave. will shrink this week, making more of the public plaza space available.

As of Friday, July 13, the MBTA bus stop on Somerville Ave. at the Union Sq. Plaza was restored to its original location.

Bicycle traffic should continue to share the lane with motor vehicle traffic on Somerville Ave. westbound while the work zone is in place.

During the week of July 16, there will be water and sewer work at the intersection of Bow St., but there will be no water interruptions.

Construction Details

Water & Sewer Work

Over the next three weeks, National Water Main crews will continue cleaning sewers along the eastern end of Somerville Ave. Expect isolated lane shifts and temporary no parking zones between Webster Ave. and Medford St. There are no expected impacts to water service as a result of this cleaning.

Barletta crews continue to replace the old water main beneath the Plaza. Last week, the final portion of existing water mains were moved onto temporary mains. During the week of July 16, water work will continue on the Plaza and Somerville Ave. at the intersection with Bow St. In approximately two weeks, this work will move east toward El Potro and Reliable Market. While there will be no water service interruptions, sidewalk cafes and furniture in this area will be moved as crews complete the work. If you are a business owner in this area and have concerns about the work, please contact the City’s Construction Compliance Manager, Jesse Moos, at [email protected].

Somerville Ave./Plaza Work Zone

Excavation will continue in the Plaza for several weeks, however the existing fenced-in work zone will become smaller as of Tuesday, July 17, the crosswalk will fully re-open, and the work zone will be moved to extend from Stone Ave. to just east of the MBTA bus stop and the crosswalk. As of Friday, July 13, the MBTA bus stop at that area was restored to its normal location,. While the work zone remains in place, bicycle traffic should continue to share the lane with motor vehicle traffic on Somerville Ave. westbound.

Work at Bow St. and Webster Ave.

This week and next week, expect isolated lane shifts and lane closures on Bow St., where Barletta will be conducting water work, and within the Somerville Ave./Webster Ave./Washington St. intersection, where Eversource Electric will be test-pitting. Bikes will be directed to share the lane with motor vehicle traffic.

During the week of July 23, Eversource will begin relocating duct banks in the Somerville Ave./Bow St./Stone Ave. area for approximately three months, requiring lane shifts and closures. Bikes will be directed to share the lane with motor vehicle traffic.

Questions?

Please refer to the project website for project background and other important information. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of the project staff:

Highlights to Note (See Below for More Details)

Isolated lane shifts for vehicles on Somerville Ave. between Webster Ave. and Medford St. beginning July 2.

Bicycle traffic should continue to share the lane with motor vehicle traffic on Somerville Ave. westbound while the work zone is in place.

Isolated water service interruptions expected the week of July 9.

Due to the holiday, construction work will stop by noon on Tuesday, July 3, and resume Thursday, July 5, at 7 a.m.

Construction Updates

Beginning the week of July 2, National Water Main crews will be cleaning sewers along the eastern end of Somerville Ave. Drivers should expect isolated lane shifts around manholes between Webster Ave. and Medford St. so that workers can safely access those sewers. On-street parking may also be affected depending on the location of the work at a given time. These cleanings are expected to takeabout three weeks to complete. There are no expected impacts to water service as a result of this cleaning.

Barletta crews are also making progress as they work toward replacing an old water main beneath the Plaza. To do so, they need to set up temporary water service, remove the old main, then install the new piping. During their overnight operations this past week, they began this process by cutting into the main water line and installing two new valves. Prior to installation, the temporary water system will be tested the week of July 2, and once it’s determined to be working safely and effectively, select building services will be transferred from the old water main to the temporary water line.

During this cutover, anticipated for the week of July 9, a small subset of properties in the area will experience a short interruption to their water service. This interruption is only expected to last about one to two hours, and impacted properties will be notified directly by the City.

Excavation continues in Union Square Plaza as Barletta works to replace a 24-inch sewer line. The fenced-in work zone in the Plaza is expected to remain in place until late July. During this time, bicycle traffic should continue to share the lane with motor vehicle traffic on Somerville Ave. westbound.

Please note that construction will wrap up by noon on Tuesday, July 3, for the Fourth of July holiday. Work will resume Thursday, July 5, at 7 a.m.

Updated 6/14/2018

Highlights of Upcoming Work (See Below for Full Details)

Overnight water work will be conducted in the Union Square Plaza the nights of Monday, June 25, and Tuesday, June 26, from approximately 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning. Some properties will experience interruptions to water access during this time, but all those affected will be contacted directly by the City.

As of this week (June 14), and continuing until approximately the week of July 16, westbound bicycle traffic will be directed to a shared lane with motor vehicle traffic in front of the plaza, on Somerville Ave.

Overnight Work & Water-Service Disruptions

Overnight work will be conducted in the plaza the nights of Monday, June 25, and Tuesday, June 26, from approximately 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning, in order to perform necessary tie-ins to existing water systems. This work has been planned during overnight hours in order to be as minimally impactful to residents and businesses as possible, particularly as there will be some water service interruptions during this work.

During these times, crews will be performing work involving two local waterline tie-ins, so some properties in the area will experience interruptions to their water service between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. All properties that will be affected will be contacted directly by the City within the next week.

Residents may hear intermittent, moderate noise overnight while the crew’s compressor is running and when workers are sawing into pipes. Project staff ultimately chose to conduct this work overnight, however, in an effort to minimize disruptions to the community and to avoid interrupting residents’ water access during daytime hours.

Construction Updates

Crews have completed test pitting operations within the intersection of Prospect St. and Somerville Ave. and will continue to test pit the east end of Somerville Ave. (toward Medford St.).

Excavation to replace a 24-inch sewer line at the south edge of the Union Square plaza began this week, just west of the mid-block crossing at the plaza, and will continue toward the east side of Stone Ave. on Somerville Ave. westbound.

A fenced-in work zone was set up in the plaza on Tuesday, June 12, which will remain in place for approximately five weeks, including on weekends. During this time, bicycle traffic will be directed to the shared lane with motor vehicle traffic on Somerville Ave. westbound.

Please note that the MBTA bus stop on Somerville Ave. at the Union Square plaza has shifted approximately 100 feet east toward Prospect St., near the Somerville Media Center building, to accommodate construction for the foreseeable future.

Preconstruction Surveys

Pre-construction property surveys are underway. Pre-construction surveys include visual inspections of the exteriors and interiors of buildings using video, photographs, or a level survey that measures elevations of basements and ground floors. All inspections will be performed in the presence of the engineer and property owner or their designee.

Both the City and Barletta have sent multiple notices to property owners designated for pre-construction surveys. If you are unsure if your property was included, please reach out to a member of the project team listed below.

Updated 6/3/2018

Below are some project updates for your information:

Tree removals will now begin Wednesday, June 6. To see the locations of these trees and a list of trees to be replanted at the completion of the project, click here.

The MBTA bus stop on Somerville Ave. adjacent to the Union Square Plaza will be shifted about 100 feet east (toward Prospect St.) on or around Thursday, June 7.

Effective this week, westbound bicycle traffic will be directed to a shared lane with motor vehicle traffic in the plaza between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Tree Removals

Due to a schedule adjustment, tree removals will now take place on Wednesday, June 6, weather permitting. Four trees in the Union Square plaza and five trees on the south side of Somerville Ave., between Bow St. and Prospect St., will be removed at that time. Almost all of these nine were found to be in poor health by the City’s arborist. In total, 37 trees are scheduled to be removed throughout project. Trees allocated for removal that are west of Allen St. are scheduled to be removed over the course of the 2018 construction season. Trees allocated for removal that are east of Allen St. are planned for removal in 2019. 40 trees will be preserved throughout construction, and 51 new trees will be planted at the end of the project. Visit www.somervillema.gov/somervilleaveto view the presentation materials from two tree hearings held in 2018, a list of trees that will be removed, and a map showing the nine that will come down Wednesday.

Upcoming Construction Schedule

Beginning the week of June 4 and continuing for approximately six weeks, excavation will occur to replace a 24-inch sewer line at the south edge of Union Square plaza, just west of the mid-block crossing at the plaza, and will continue to the east side of Stone Ave. on Somerville Ave. westbound. This work will include a work zone in the plaza itself and will also impact the bike lane and westbound travel line. Bicycle traffic will be directed to the shared lane with motor vehicle traffic on Somerville Ave. westbound during work hours (between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.).

The MBTA bus stop on Somerville Ave. at the Union Square plaza will be shifted approximately 100 feet east toward Prospect St., near the Somerville Media Center Building, to accommodate the sewer installation. The bus stop relocation will occur on or around Thursday, June 7. Please review all posted signage.

Preconstruction Surveys

Last week, contractors from Barletta Heavy Division sent letters to property owners in specific areas notifying them about pre-construction property surveys. The purpose of pre-construction surveys is to document existing property conditions prior to construction. While not required, the surveys provide important documentation should property owners notice damage to their property during or after construction. Without proper documentation of conditions before construction, it may be difficult to demonstrate how or if damage may have been done to a particular property as a result of the project. Preconstruction surveys include visual inspection of the exteriors and interiors of buildings by means of video, photographs, a level survey giving elevations of basements and ground floor.

If your property is impacted, building owners should already have received notice from the City and from Barletta.

All inspections will be performed in the presence of the Engineer and property owner or their designee.

Updated 5/23/2018

Upcoming Construction Schedule

During the weeks of May 21 and May 28, contractors will continue digging test pits intermittently along Somerville Ave. between Bow St. and Prospect St., and also between Prospect St. and Medford St. Test pits are a common construction practice. Prior to the start of any excavation, construction crews dig small “test pits” to be sure that the underground infrastructure and utilities are in proper order and that the construction plan can proceed accordingly. Typically, test pits are only several feet wide and do not involve significant work or impacts to abutters, however this work will require some lane shifts, closures, and parking restrictions in various locations along Somerville Ave., just west of Prospect Street to Medford Street, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. No Parking signage will be posted 48 hours in advance of the parking restriction at test pit location. Please review any posted signage when parking in this area as signage and timing may change.

Beginning the week of June 4 and continuing for approximately six weeks, excavation will occur to replace a 24-inch sewer line at the south edge of Union Square plaza, just west of the mid-block crossing in the plaza, and continue to the east side of Stone Ave. on Somerville Ave. westbound. This work will include a work zone in the plaza itself and will also impact the bike lane and westbound travel line. Bicycle traffic will be directed to the shared lane with motor vehicle traffic on Somerville Ave. westbound during work hours (between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.).

The MBTA bus stop on Somerville Ave. at the Union Square plaza will be shifted approximately 100 feet east, near the Somerville Media Center Building, to accommodate the sewer installation. The bus stop relocation will occur sometime during the week of June 4, 2018. Please review all posted signage.

Preconstruction Surveys

Beginning the week of May 21, contractors will be contacting property owners in specific areas to conduct pre-construction property surveys. The purpose of pre-construction surveys is to document existing property conditions prior to construction. While not required, the surveys provide important documentation should property owners notice damage to their property during or after construction. Without proper documentation of conditions before construction, it may be difficult to demonstrate how or if damage may have been done to a particular property as a result of the project. Impacted properties will be notified directly by the project team. Preconstruction surveys include visual inspection of the exteriors and interiors of buildings by means of video, photographs, a level survey giving elevations of basements and ground floor.

If your property is impacted, building owners should already have received a notice from the City, and another is forthcoming from Barletta.

All inspections will be performed in the presence of the Engineer and property owner or their designee.

Tree Removals

Some tree removals will occur on Wednesday, June 6 with the removal of four trees in the Union Square plaza, as well as five trees on the south side of Somerville Ave., between Bow St. and Prospect St. There are a total of 37 trees scheduled to be removed for the project. The trees allocated for removal that are located west of Allen St. are scheduled to be removed over the course of the 2018 construction season. Trees allocated for removal and located east of Allen St. are planned for removal in 2019. 40 trees will be preserved through the project. 51 new trees will be planted at the end of the project. Click here to view presentation materials and a list of the trees allocated for removal. You can find a memo from engineering firm WSP to City officials here.

Updated 4/27/2018

Upcoming Construction Schedule

Beginning the week of April 30 and continuing over the next several weeks, contractors will begin digging test pits intermittently along Somerville Ave. between Bow St. and Prospect St. Test pits are a common construction practice. Prior to the start of any excavation, construction crews dig small “test pits” to be sure that the underground infrastructure and utilities are in proper order and that the construction plan can proceed accordingly. Typically, test pits are only several feet wide and do not involve significant work or impacts to abutters, however this work will require some lane shifts, closures, and parking restrictions at Bow St., Stone Ave., and the Union Square Plaza, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. No parking signs will be posted along the north side of Somerville Ave., in the vicinity of 59 Somerville Ave. Please review any posted signage when parking in this area as signage and timing may change.

Preconstruction Surveys

Over the next few weeks, contractors will be contacting property owners in specific areas to conduct pre-construction property surveys. The purpose of pre-construction surveys is to document existing property conditions prior to construction. While not required, the surveys provide important documentation should property owners notice damage to their property during or after construction. Without proper documentation of conditions before construction, it may be difficult to demonstrate how or if damage may have been done to a particular property as a result of the project. Impacted properties will be notified directly by the project team.

Preconstruction surveys of selected buildings may begin the week of May 14 or May 21. These include visual inspection of the exteriors and interiors of buildings by means of video, photographs, a level survey giving elevations of basements and ground floor.

The City will first provide a general notice describing the project and the need to obtain access to the buildings. The Contractor will then contact individual building owners at least 2 weeks after the City has provided notice.

The Contractor will make contact by phone call to discuss need to inspect and get signed right of entry. If they do not reach building owner by phone, then the Contractor typically sends a letter by certified mailed.

All inspections will be performed in the presence of the Engineer and property owner or their designee.

Tree Removal Hearings

There are 37 trees scheduled for removal as defined in the project plans. The City of Somerville held two public tree hearings in Spring 2018 to discuss these removals: March 28 and May 2. You can view the presentation slides by clicking here.

Project Background

Improvements Above and Below Ground

The Somerville Ave. Utility and Streetscape Improvements project will begin in approximately April 2018, and will include the section of Somerville Ave. between Bow St/Washington St. (the heart of Union Square) and Medford St. (just past the Target). Note: this project is separate from the recent traffic improvements on Prospect St. and Webster Ave., and builds upon the Somerville Ave. Reconstruction project that was completed in 2010.)

This project will address legacy stormwater flooding issues in Union Square, and includes significant streetscape improvements. The entire project is anticipated to take approximately 3.5 years to complete.*

There are two major categories of work of the project: Upgrades to the underground stormwater management system and other aspects of the water and sewer systems, and enhancements to the overall streetscape.

Underground, the stormwater upgrades will increase capacity and reduce flooding with the installation of a 14-foot wide by 6-foot tall box culvert (a rectangular concrete structure) under Somerville Ave. from Union Square to Medford St. The 800,000 gallon box culvert will remove storm flows from the 100-year old, 72-inch brick combined sewer underneath Somerville Ave., eventually allowing this pipe to serve as a dedicated sanitary line. Water main replacements and sewer pipe lining rehabilitation will provide reliable service for many years to come.

The enhanced facilities will reduce intersection crossing distances and improve sight lines between pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists. 6.5-foot wide bike lanes along either side of the street will be fully separated from the road by a raised curb and offset by a few feet.

Green stormwater infrastructure will be used to collect and filter runoff from 25% of the project area. This will be accomplished by new planted areas, stormwater infrastructure that will support large tree growth, and permeable surfaces on the bike paths and in some buffer areas. New permeable areas will lead to a reduction of 0.7 acres of impervious hard surface.

There will also be utility work by Eversource in the Union Square plaza, in the heart of Union Square near the intersection of Bow St. and Somerville Ave., and on Prospect St. The utility work is anticipated to start in March 2018. Plans showing the approximate location of this work can be found in the Plans section of the website, below.

* Project timeline may be impacted by unforeseen challenges such as inclement / severe weather, conditions of underground infrastructure, and emergencies.

More Information

For more information, please contact Dan Amelin at (617) 625-6600 ext. 5124, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Plans

Plan Drawings

Other Plan Documents

Detours & Maps

Detour FAQs (Click Here)

Who designed the vehicle and bus detour routes?

Detour routes for vehicles and buses were carefully planned and reviewed by multiple City departments during the Somerville Ave. Utility & Streetscape Improvements Project’s design phase. A Traffic Management Plan (TMP) is created and/or reviewed by the City’s Traffic Engineer whenever work might require a change in the normal flow of traffic, whether it’s a minor adjustment or a longer-term detour like this one. All TMPs are created in compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), a federal, state, and city standard. All advanced-warning signs (such as solar-powered Variable Message Boards) and traffic-control devices are positioned in accordance with the MUTCD. Detour routes are also reviewed by staff in Traffic & Parking and Engineering to ensure the width and capacity of the proposed detour roadways can handle rerouted traffic.

In addition to City staff, the MBTA, and WSP, the design firm working on this project, were involved in determining and finalizing the detour. Public-safety officials were also consulted and approved the route.

Why was Dane St. chosen as the detour route? It seems very narrow for cars and buses to use at the same time.

As noted above, detour routes for vehicles and buses were carefully designed and reviewed by multiple City departments, the MBTA, and WSP. All found Dane St. to be capable of accommodating detoured traffic and preferred it over alternative detour options for both safety and efficiency reasons.

In October 2018, the MBTA performed a trial run of the detour route on Dane St. with existing traffic and parking conditions and confirmed that buses could safely proceed southbound to Washington St.

This detour will continue to be monitored once it’s in effect, and adjustments will be made as necessary.

Has the City considered allowing for two-way traffic or reversing the one-way pattern on Hawkins St.?

Yes; during detour design, multiple City departments and external agencies explored the potential of either reversing the flow of one-way traffic on Hawkins St., converting Hawkins St. to accommodate two-way traffic, or keeping the flow of traffic as is. Several concerns were identified, particularly related to public safety and parking, that informed the decision to leave the orientation of traffic on Hawkins St. as is for now. Hawkins St. traffic will continue to be evaluated during the implementation and utilization of the Dane St. detour and adjustments will be made as appropriate.

Why does the detour have to be in place through the winter?

This work needs to happen now to maintain a construction sequence of events in order to install the box culvert along the whole length of Somerville Ave., as well as to meet contractual obligations to complete the project by 2021.

Will local businesses be affected by the detour? Does the City offer business assistance?

Vehicular traffic will still be able to travel down Somerville Ave. to Bow St. to access local businesses, and posted signage will encourage drivers to do so. The City’s Office of Economic Development has also taken a number of steps to help support local business during construction, including:

Launching a new technical assistance program that provides some funding for construction-affected businesses to access expert business coaching,

Hosting placemaking events and some forthcoming holiday events, as well as continuing financial support of existing events to ensure that businesses still benefit from these public events,

Managing a #Loyal2Local campaign on social media, traditional media, and through printed banners to encourage residents to patronize their local businesses that are affected by construction, and

Leveraging the @SomervilleBusinesses Instagram presence to support businesses affected by construction.

Will any parking being removed?

Only four metered parking spots will be removed to accommodate this work zone. All four are on Somerville Ave. approaching the Warren Ave. intersection, across the street from East Boston Savings Bank.